Dark Souls – The Complete Reveal

From Software, the developers of the PlayStation 3 exclusive hit, Demon’s Souls, were involved in a lot of speculation regarding a new game they were making simply titled “Project Dark”.

A lot has been revealed since then. Firstly, and most intriguingly, the game’s name was unveiled to be Dark Souls, and despite the obvious name-relation to Demon’s Souls, the game will not be a sequel to it, but rather a spiritual successor. Furthermore, Dark Souls will release on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox360, and will be co-developed by From Software and Namco Bandai Games, and is due to release by the end of 2011.

On the notion of it being a spiritual successor and not a traditional sequel, From Software has declared that it is treating Dark Souls like a brand new game, despite obvious similarities in style. Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki recently spoke to CVG at Dark Souls’ San Francisco reveal earlier this week, and explained that despite the game sharing themes with Demon’s Souls, it will contain completely new game systems and a new story.

“What we we want to clear up is this is actually not a sequel to Demon’s Souls – we’re treating this as a brand new game created by the same director and producer,” Miyazaki-san told CVG.

“Again it is created by the same director and producer, so the base concept and themes are very similar. However, the story itself as well as a lot of the game features have been recreated so that we can present this as a brand new title.”

He added: “So we’re not treating this as a sequel, we’re treating it as a new game on its own.”

For a quick break from reading, before we get to more details, check out the first cinematic trailer for the game below, which includes gameplay in it. It looks awesome.

Regarding what’s new in Demon’s Souls 2 Dark Souls, there will naturally be more weapons, moves and spells, but there will be no classes. To the dismay of some and interest of others, the game is said to be ‘significantly harder’ than its predecessor, featuring more enemies and more challenging and difficult encounters.

Good news is that, like Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls will also include the much-loved option of leaving messages to other players and seeing others’ deaths, as well as player versus player (PvP) match ups. It will also feature a new co-op system that has yet to be detailed.

The first detail blow-out for the game arrived through gaming magazine Famitsu, and thankfully NeoGaf translated it:

– This [Dark Souls] is the official title of what was previously Project Dark

– This time they want to increase the amount of field exploration in the game.

– All fields are seamless, so whatever you can see, you can reach and explore. If you see a fortress or castle walls in the distance, you can eventually get there.

– There will be no map display in the game, just a position display marker.

– They aim to make the game just as challenging than Demon’s Souls, but also just as rewarding when you succeed. The sense of achievement is important.

– The gameplay will be similar to Demon’s Souls in concept, where it’s about trial and error and learning from your mistakes to play better.

– The game does not share the same world and story as Demon’s Souls.

– The game will not use the same format as Demon’s Souls in terms of having 5 worlds connected via a hub.

– Instead all maps in the game will be linked seamlessly in a connected world. The pace of the game will feel more about exploration and discovering locations, which you can then go inside into a dungeon or whatever and explore the interior further.

– There will be more complex level designs in the game using more vertical design in areas and such.

– The world setting is based on medieval dark fantasy, and will contain themes like “high fantasy of kings and knights”, “death and the depths of the earth”, and “the flames of chaos”.

– The character creation process will not be class based.

– The play style of the player character will have much more freedom this time.

– There will be many more spells and items, and the animation and uniqueness of weapons will also be increased.

– The online elements are very similar to Demon’s Souls. There is cooperative and PvP.

– You can still leave messages, and see players who died at various places.

– There will be no Soul Tendency this time because they don’t want to have to use dedicated servers.

– Instead this time there will be more features allowing players to engage in “mutual role playing” which they say are still under wraps. They’ll reveal more when it’s time.